CHICAGO — Astros righthander Collin McHugh threw a bullpen Friday and said that the right finger nail avulsion that landed him on the disabled list was no longer bothering him. Nonetheless, the Astros want to be sure he can make it a full start without being bothered mid-game, so they’re sending him to join Class […]
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Well played, J.D. Martinez. Released by the Astros in spring training, Martinez arrived at Minute Maid Park on Friday as the starting left fielder for the Tigers batting fifth in the lineup behind Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, carrying a .310 average with nine home runs and 32 RBIs. The Tigers entered the day on […]
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When George Springer hits balls off the train in left-center field at Minute Maid Park during batting practice — or 441-foot shots past Tal’s Hill during games — it’s hard not to wonder how he’d fare in the home run derby. There could be worse selections for American League captain Jose Bautista of the Blue […]
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Besides frustration for the man himself, Asher Wojciechowski’s time on the disabled list creates a point of trivia. It doesn’t create a suspicious situation, or a unique situation, or one that won’t be seen again, just something that upon first mention might strike people as odd. Service-time talk is everywhere in baseball. As long as […]
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When the Astros can make not one, but two base running mistakes in one inning; when they can take the lead in that same inning and suffer none for their errors later, you have as sure a sign yet that this club’s fortunes have changed. Even the best teams need a little luck, an occasional […]
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The top pick in last year’s draft, Mark Appel has met up with Class A Lancaster, the team he left in April because he was having trouble physically adjusting to pro ball. He is scheduled to start for the JetHawks on Saturday. The Astros asked their minor league pitchers to pitch on an every-four-day schedule […]
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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Astros are modifying their tandem pitching system in the minor leagues. All Astros affiliates are slated to again have eight starting pitchers, who will piggyback starts. Two starters go per game, one after the other, and instead of a typical five-man rotation, the pitchers will be on a four-day schedule. The […]
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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Astros released non-roster invitee Cesar Izturis on Monday and told Marwin Gonzalez that he had made the team as their back-up infielder. The Astros made additional moves, optioning Josh Zeid to minor league camp (coincidentally, on his birthday). Non-roster outfielder Adron Chambers was reassigned to minor league camp, as was catcher […]
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JUPITER, Fla. — In the last week, it became clear the Astros are big fans of contract extensions for young players, even ones who aren’t established yet in the majors. Such contracts can prove to be huge bargains. The subject at one point or another has been broached, to varying degrees, with Jason Castro, Robbie […]
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JUPITER, Fla. — The Astros and Nationals remain in the process of reviewing sites where they could relocate their spring training base in Florida. The teams met with officials from Palm Beach County, along Florida’s east coast, earlier in March. “I think they’re studying the locations,” Crane said. “We’re still hopeful. We’ve met with the […]
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